If you have stock wheels, you're going to have to go 10.5 unless you want spacers. The 12.5 is more popular and in most folks' opinion looks better, but it's not going to fit on the stock wheels without rubbing unless you add spacers.

What's 12.5 inches bringing to the table for me? More rolling resistance, a footprint that's wider and shorter for the same tire pressure, more weight, clearance issues with my fenders and OE suspension components. What's 12.5 inches getting me? More floatation in deep mud/sand, and arguably better on-road handling (thought that depends on so many things...).

Honestly, you're going to have a hell of a time finding less than an 11.5 inch tire in 33" from anyone but BFG. So, when you start looking at the actual tire performance, it quickly becomes more about the tire you want than anything else. If the Duratrac is where it's at performance wise you can forget about 10-10.5 inches. Honestly, Interco (with the M-16, maybe one or two others) is about the only other brand I can think of that rocks 33x10.5 in any width. I feel like there is someone else out there (Dunlop?), but the reality is that if you want something like a Toyo, Yokohama, Hankook, GoodYear, Cooper, etc. you won't be getting it in 33x10.5.

Actually, the 10.5 would be a better tire and a lot better on gas mileage. Saying that, looks usually over comes better judgement. The 12.5's just look more like monsters and the 10.5's look more like stock

I wish they made a 35X11.5X15 in a good tire, I would buy it in a heart beat

I'm happy with the 10.5. I also went with the AEV Savagre, which gives it just enough of a stance for my tastes. Great tire though.
As it is I notice a lot more debris gets thrown onto my rear fenders, even with the running boards.
I have about 1 1/2" of tire sticking out past my fenders, looks just how I like it.
Another consideration might be if you intend to drive on snow. Too wide of a tire doesn't handle real well on snowy roads, whereas a thinner tire tends to cut through the snow better.

99% of guys run 15x8" wheels. So the dilemma is do you run 10.50s which have only 7.5" of tread width on a 8" wheel which will look silly, or do you run the 12.50 which has almost 10" of tread width on a 8" wheel which isn't going to wear properly unless you use low pressures on the highway? The 12.50 is pushing the limits of what you should even install on the wheel, but the 10.50 is slightly more narrow than what you'd like to have on the wheel.

I'm pretty happy with the 12.50s but in all honesty...if there were more tire options I would definitely go 10.50 from now on for all the reasons listed above by the other guys. Better handling on the road, better fuel economy, better rain and snow performance, etc.

__________________
~Lots of modded Jeeps and a Toyota 4Runner~
My favorite quote from the press release.. sad but true: "Chrysler claims its products, especially the Jeeps, can handle all sorts of terrible conditions, churning through muddy swamps, climbing mountains, and crossing rivers. Turns out they cannot even handle a car wash."

I can tell you the difference between a km2 10.50 and 12.50 is lug spacing. Additionally, I properly inflated 12.50 on an 8 inch rim will wear properly on road and allow deflating offroad and contact patch does make a difference in off road performance. It all comes down to what your plans are with the jeep.

For airing down a good rule of thumb is to double the rim size. That is why you see a lot of the jk guys running 35's. Additionally, the drive train in a jk is much more stout than other wrangler models and can handle the larger tire. Where they typically fall short is in the gearing, wheel offset and the ecu programming. Most will opt for an aev procal in lieu of a regear because of the lower cost. If you are running wider tires or a lift on a jk with factory wheels you will need to run a set of quality spacers, which will also help the scrub radius as well.

Not too many choices in 285/75-17 though. Mine were $224 each but have a 50,000 mile treadlife warranty.
The Toyo Open Country AT-2 has two variations. The "Xtreem" has deeper lugs and bigger voids.

Hey Bill, can you tell us little more about these tires ?
I like them both.
Do you have this mud Discoverer tire too ?
How loud is that tire ? What's performance on the road like ?
How is it on the wet pavement ?
After I am done with my original BFG , I will start looking for something little bigger, and these may fit well.
Thanks,

The guys here at 4wheel parts say the higher the lift then wider the tire to reduce rollover vs if you have high lift with skinny tires.

Nah.
How about kicking the skinnies out with different backspacing?

Skinnies rule the mud, take on the rocks, give better fuel economy. Fatties are good for sand and rock but are heavier and more taxing on the suspension for street use.
If you've got a dedicated trail JK, run whatever you want. But in the real world the skinny wins.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 109 Rider

Hey Bill, can you tell us little more about these tires ?
I like them both.
Do you have this mud Discoverer tire too ?
How loud is that tire ? What's performance on the road like ?
How is it on the wet pavement ?
After I am done with my original BFG , I will start looking for something little bigger, and these may fit well.
Thanks,

In the 285/75-16 size, I ran Wrangler MTR/K and then the Cooper Discoverer STT. The Goodyear was a little better on the street but the Coopers killed them in mud and on rocks.
I've got the Toyo Open Country AT2s on the PW now after running BFG ATs at first and then Cooper STTs after. The Coopers didn't come in a 34 or I'd still have them.

As for noise, the Coopers aren't as quiet as an AT but not as loud as most muds. I never got a complaint from the wife about them at all and that's as good as it gets....

Another tire to look at is the Cooper ST Maxx ----- like the Toyo AT2 and Goodyear Duratrac, it's an AT/Mud hybrid.

The treadlife warranty was a kicker for me on the Toyos. I never had a tire that worked that well in the snot and had a treadlife warranty. In fact, I never had a tire that worked well and lasted more than 25,000 miles.